This low latency is particularly important for multitasking machines like servers. I think this is why the server manufacturers have pretty much en mass decided to go with DDR, and Intel will too.
The real showstopper for servers is memory capacity. The largest RIMM module stores 256MB, and further you are limited to two fully populated modules per channel (512MB). You can buy 1GB DIMMs today, and put at least 4 on a channel.
Then when you consider cost, power consumption, and reliability features, it's a no brainer. All the major server makers (yes, even Dell) have selected the RCC chipset for the latest models, which uses PC133. In 2000 RCC will support DDR. Rambus is not on the roadmap.
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Industry Leaders Support Reliance Server Memory Roadmap
Santa Clara, Calif. - Sept. 2, 1999 - Reliance Computer Corp., the leading independent supplier of high-performance core logic for Intel-based servers, today announced that the industry's foremost server and memory suppliers have endorsed its roadmap for server memory technology. The company plans to support PC133 SDRAM in the fourth quarter of 1999 and Double Data-Rate (DDR) SDRAM one year later. System suppliers backing the Reliance roadmap include Compaq Computer, Dell Computer, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, NEC, Siemens, and Sun Microsystems. Memory suppliers supporting this roadmap include Fujitsu, Hitachi, Hyundai, IBM, Infineon, Micron, Mitsubishi, NEC, Samsung Electronics, and Toshiba.
Reliance made its announcement to clarify the confusion that pervades the server industry with regard to future memory technologies. Much of this confusion results from differences in the technical requirements servers and desktop systems place on their respective memory subsystems. Server designers must optimize memory capacity and bandwidth, even at some sacrifice in granularity (the minimum increment in which memory can be added to a system). Desktop system designers focus on memory granularity; capacity and bandwidth are rarely issues in this class of product. Thus, it comes as no surprise that technology that targets desktop applications is less than optimal for servers. Furthermore, the explosive volume growth of the server market and continued market segmentation is driving the need for dedicated server memory technology that meets these server requirements.
"In the past, Intel drove memory standards for desktop systems, and this technology also worked well for servers. The entire industry benefited from the component availability and interoperability that resulted from Intel's leadership," noted Raju Vegesna, the president and founder of Reliance Computer. "Today, the gap between desktop and server requirements has grown too large for one standard to work well in both market segments. Intel's focus on desktops left a vacuum regarding standards for server memory architecture. As the leading independent supplier of server technology for Intel-based systems, Reliance has picked up the torch of component device standardization, and intends to carry it forward."
"Multiprocessor server environments require large main memory subsystems that deliver low access latency and high bandwidth without excessive cost premiums," observed Bert McComas, principal analyst at Inquest Market Research. "These configurations incorporate lots of memory, so cost issues cannot be ignored. Systems are often deployed in mission-critical applications that cannot tolerate system downtime or data corruption, and require extensive error detection and correction mechanisms. Building on the momentum of PC133, DDR is sure to establish critical mass in the DRAM standards wars, and will reaffirm the advantage of evolutionary paths to performance."
Reliance determined that PC133 SDRAM best meets the requirements for the forthcoming generation of Pentium III and Xeon processors due later in 1999, while DDR SDRAM provides the balanced performance the industry needs for the faster processors that will emerge over the next eighteen months. The company worked with major memory suppliers to ensure that adequate quantities of interoperable components will be available when needed. Reliance recently released designs for registered DIMMs that incorporate these components and will make these designs available to all suppliers.
Server suppliers endorse PC133 and DDR SDRAM
Server suppliers expressed confidence PC133 and DDR SDRAM will best satisfy their customers' needs for large capacity, reliable and low cost memory subsystems.
"The servers HP sells contain more memory, in total, than the desktop systems we sell into commercial accounts," said Larry Shintaku, NetServer chief technology Officer. "Our customers can never get enough memory for their servers. We expect that by 2001, typical servers will contain several GBytes. It makes sense to optimize our technical strategies to meet this market segment's unique requirements. Our engineers studied all the alternative memory technologies, and concluded DDR holds the most promise for building big, fast, reliable and affordable memory systems."
"IBM has employed Chipkill memory for many years in our enterprise systems to ensure continuous operation - even if one of the memory chips fails completely," commented Dr. Tom Bradicich, Director of Architecture and Design for IBM Netfinity Servers. "Consistent with our Netfinity X-architecture roadmaps, we have added Chipkill memory technology to our Netfinity 7000 M10 Intel-based server, where cost considerations mandate the use of high-volume standardized memory components. The configurations of PC100, PC133 and DDR SDRAM memory chips are ideal for Chipkill implementations in this rapidly growing class of affordable servers. We will deliver this memory technology in future Netfinity servers as well."
"Our direct model provides Dell with a unique capability to understand requirements within each of our product lines. In turn, our engineers can then select the best technology for each product to meet our customers' needs", according to Russ Holt, vice president and general manager, Departmental & Workgroup Servers. "We'll soon introduce Rambus memory for high-end desktop systems and workstations, because customers of these products need a combination of high performance and fine granularity or increments in their memory configurations. Customers of our PowerEdge servers are less concerned with granularity, and more concerned with the capacity of the DIMMs and the overall system performance. We're confident they will appreciate the cost, performance, and capacity of this year's 1 GB PC133 DIMMs and next year's 2 GB DDR modules."
"Compaq has worked closely with RCC for several years in solving customers' technical challenges and is pleased to see them take this important step to proliferate PC133 SDRAM technology," states Kenneth Jansen, Director of Advanced Server Architecture and Design, Industry Standard Server Division for Compaq Computer Corp. "PC133 addresses the price/performance requirements of industry standard computing for our server customers. Compaq will begin implementing PC133 SDRAM in server products this year, and is considering DDR for products next year.
"Historically, Sun's servers consume lots of high density memory. We are already talking about systems with a terabyte of main memory," according to Clement Fang, senior engineering manager for Sun Microsystem's Memory Technology Group. "Sun tries to balance cost, performance and reliability with electrical and thermal characteristics from a system perspective. PC133 and DDR SDRAM are a good fit with Sun's requirements, and we are designing our future systems to work with these technologies."
DRAM suppliers back the Reliance roadmap
Major DRAM suppliers also back the Reliance roadmap. They believe that the PC133 and DDR represent the most straightforward evolution of today's memory technologies, and will allow them to deliver the most cost-effective products in the future. Reliance is working closely with key suppliers and Advanced Memory International (AMI2) to define DDR component and DIMM standards.
"It's no secret that in the extremely competitive DRAM market, die size plays a key role in determining both the manufacturing cost and selling price of a memory chip," said Mike Seibert, Strategic Marketing Manager at Micron Technology, Inc. "PC133 and DDR designs leverage existing DRAM knowledge and infrastructure, and should be the preferred solutions for the next few years. SDRAM and the evolutionary DDR SDRAM enable the cost-effective, highly-reliable, and high-density memory solutions required by the PC server market place."
"The server market's large appetite for memory makes it an attractive target for Samsung," commented Mian Quddus, the senior manager of Samsung Semiconductor's Enabling Group. "Using PC133 and DDR SDRAMs, we can make DIMMs as large as 1 GB today, and twice that size next year. From the standpoints of motherboard real estate and thermal management, the DDR solution offers many advantages."
About Reliance
Reliance Computer Corp., the world's leading independent supplier of high-performance core logic for Intel-based servers, has delivered more than two million ServerSet chipsets since its inception in 1995. Its recently introduced ServerSetTM III architecture allows Original Equipment Manufacturers to address a wide range of market requirements with a single family of compatible core logic devices. Reliance products form the basis for entry-level and mid-range servers offered by top-tier server suppliers, including Compaq Computer, IBM and NEC. Privately held Reliance is based in Santa Clara, Calif.
For further information, contact:
Reliance Computer: David Pulling, David@RCCorp.com, (408) 492-1915
Compaq Computer, Ken Jansen, Ken.Jansen@Compaq.com; (281) 514-5780
Dell Computer, Greg Wise, wiseg@fleishman.com, (512) 495-7164
Fujitsu, Fumio Baba, fbaba@fmi.fujitsu.com, (408) 922-9255
Hewlett-Packard Company, Henry Li, henry-hw_li@hp.com, (650) 857-8134
Hitachi, Jim Sogus, Jim.Sogas@hsa.hitachi.com, (408) 232-3795
Hyundai, Ross C. Gaisor, rgaisor@hea.com, (408) 232-8080
Infineon, Gil Russell, gilbert.russell@infineon.com, (408) 777-4907
IBM Corp., Tom Bradicich, Bradic@us.ibm.com, (919) 543-1655
Micron Technology, Julie Nash, Jnash@Micron.com, (208) 368-4426
Mitsubishi Electronics, Sam Chen Sam_Chen@edg.mea.com(408) 774-3072
NEC, Manabu Ando, Manabu_Ando@el.nec.com, (408) 588-6471
Samsung Semiconductor, Richard Haas, RHaas@ssi.samsung.com, (408) 544-4124
Sun Microsystems, Clement Fang, Clement.Fang@eng.sun.com, (650)786-6595
Toshiba, Doug Crane, Doug_Crane@taec.toshiba.com, (949) 455-2260
Reliance DDR Press Release September 1, 1999 Page 3
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